The European Union (EU) on Wednesday proposed adding pro-Russian officials in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporijia to the list of individual sanctions.
“We propose the adoption of additional restrictive measures against persons who support, facilitate or benefit from the invasion of Ukraine”said EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell in a press statement.
First, the restrictive measures, as specified by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, will affect “the authorities representing Russia in Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporijia”.
The sanctions – including an asset freeze and a ban on travel to the EU – are expected to continue to apply “to the Russians who organized and facilitated these disgraceful referendums in the four occupied Ukrainian territories,” the representative added. .
Borrell also stressed that today’s proposal – in response to the recent referendums on the accession to the Russian Federation of these occupied territories – will impose sanctions on Russian officials linked to the defense sectorsuch as the Defense Minister, as well as suppliers of war equipment to Russia, including missiles and combat aircraft, as well as participants in Moscow’s announced mobilization process of 300,000 reservists.
The new sanctions package also targets spreaders of false information and donors of funds to Moscow-occupied territories, according to Brussels.
The European Commission has today proposed an eighth package of sanctions against Russia, in light of the “re-escalation” of the Kremlin (Russian Presidency) in its aggression against Ukraine, with the holding of “fraudulent referendums”, partial mobilization and the threat of resort to nuclear weapons.
The new EU sanctions package, set out in Brussels today by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU High Representative Josep Borrell, includes a cap on the price of Russian oil, new trade restrictions that will cut some €7 billion in revenue, a ban on exports of more products to deprive the Kremlin of key technologies for its defense industry and an update of the list of individuals and entities targeted by restrictive measures.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, a hostile act condemned by most of the international community, who responded by sending arms to Ukraine and imposing political and economic sanctions on Russia.
Source: DN
